Whereas the VIP ticket would get you in an hour early (VIP entry started at 7pm), the Lucky Rice website’s claim that it also innately means “half-capacity” is ludicrous, seeing as the ballroom was already at Shinjuku station rush hour levels of crowding by 7:30pm.

In other words…

Overlooking Columbus Circle

The city views were great, but…

The breathing room, not so much.

Still, I believe that in general, the food offerings at the Lucky Rice New York Feast were better than other events, if often a bit salty.

I noticed that there was a slightly hidden room located opposite to the main ballroom/entrance. Fortunately, at the time it was quite empty – not to mention, it coincidentally had what I believed to be the best sample of the night:

The Anjou pear cake with yogurt and dark chocolate. Simple and not too sweet, I regret not returning for seconds at the end of the show.

You may also begin to notice the omnipresence of the color red. In China, the color represents good luck, prosperity, and happiness. That it can also mean “stop” has not caught on yet in that country…

In this dish, the bánh tráng mè (sesame rice crackers) provided a nice texture, but there was a distinct lack of numbing spiciness (from the Sichuan peppercorn) that took away from it.

Though it was a tad salty, this was probably one of the better options of the New York Feast. I could easily taste each of the ingredients, but throwing in the endive for the crunchy texture and bitterness was unusual, for something Thai-inspired.

The eel taco sounds fun, but I couldn’t help but think that adding in the tare (Japanese eel sauce) would have worked best.

Oh, as for the photo, this is the result of taking a photo using another person’s flash.

The idea sounds delicious, but again, it was awfully salty. Lemon would have helped out.

Simple seems to have worked best that night, as this was my favorite savory – ok, umami – selection at the Lucky Rice New York Feast. I should have parked myself here for the night, and purchased a fishing rod for…

the Kimbap Lab.

In South Korea, you can find these filling and relatively healthy kimbap (rice rolled up with various ingredients in seaweed) for less than two bucks, and with lots of types of seafood and proteins to fill them. The Kimbap Lab is the first Korean vendor located in any Whole Foods, and they can be found in the Williamsburg (Brooklyn, NY) location. Here’s to hoping that they make it to a NYC-area airport soon.

These days, Nabisco’s diminutive Oreo might be a mainstay in supermarkets, convenience stores, and vending machines. However, these black-and-white sandwich cookies received great inspiration from the Hydrox, the original, introduced by Sunshine Biscuits in 1908, four years earlier than the Oreo. Whether or not you prefer the darker chocolate of the Hydrox – or that it still tastes as good as it did back in 1908 (quite an exclamation) – there’s no denying that the origin of both cookie names is unusual.

The history of “Oreo” is even more dubious, as it either refers to the Greek word for mountain (Όρος “oros”) – since the cookies originally were slightly mounded – or the French word for gold (or), because the first packages were golden.

Alas, we’re not here to cover the background, or the rivalry between the two brands. Instead, we’re going to focus on Oreos – and their knock-offs – from all over the world.

The discoveries were mostly in North America and East Asia – no shock there – but there will be a nuanced example at the end.

The US

Marilan Bauny, from Brazil, seen in Philadelphia, USA

Giro, from Mexico, seen in San Diego, USA

Kinnikinnick Kinnitoos (gluten-free), seen in New York City, USA

Lotte Sandu, from South Korea, seen in Los Angeles, USA

Dux Festy Wow!, from Colombia, seen in Philadelphia, USA

Nothing too unique found in the US; yet, three of the brands don’t even hail from the country. Then again, there’s the token gluten–free “Oreo,” but I wouldn’t touch those with a 10-meter cattle prod.

To start off this post’s language lesson, “giro” in Spanish means “turn,” which reflects the most famous way Oreos have been eaten. Also, although there is a word for sandwich (샌드위치 senduwichi) in Korean, the Lotte package abbreviates it to 샌드 “sendu.” Japanese does this too; the verb “to make into a sandwich” is サンドする (sando suru), literally “to sandwich.”

Mexico

Considering the bright colors, I could stick this package on the back of my metaphorical bike, in lieu of a yellow reflector. Found in Mexico City, this Oreo “trio” offered a combo of chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry, better known as the Neapolitan.

Though the product doesn’t quite look like an Oreo, the name sure does. But are Orievo the biggest offender? Stay tuned.

Bought the Goriorio at an Indonesian store in Kaohsiung. The cookies were so artificial tasting that the wrapper probably would’ve tasted better.

China

Mango and orange Oreos, made in China. So, replace the mango and orange with Styrofoam and dish soap, and then you’d be correct.

Nah, I’ve been craving Hunanese food lately, so I’ll lay off of the reality for a bit. They weren’t bad, but the grape and peach ones were another story.

Apologies for the inferior photo quality, but the most important aspect of the photo is clear enough. “Ord.” That’s a good one. But might it be shorthand for the Chinese ghost city aka Ordos? No. No way.

Indonesia

These Indonesian “Dueto” look like pieces of chocolate instead of sandwich cookies. Maybe marshmallow is in the middle? Tidak (no), it’s not. They were also extremely artificial tasting. But what’s that sneaking into the photo on the bottom?…

Ooh, now we’re talkin’. Tried these coconut delight Oreos in Solo (Surakarta), and they were addictive. Deliberately took the photo in front of the sign which translates as “ginger alley 3.” Ginger-flavored Oreos? Perhaps one day…

Japan

We have finally had a banner year for Japan on BuildingMyBento. Reviews, onigiri month, guest posts, and plenty of Japanese food. But, what of Japanese takes on foreign food?

Although my usual visits to Bangkok involve staying near Sukhumvit Soi 3 (the Arab/pan-African part of town), a drastic change in neighborhoods was welcome this time.

The Shangri-La Bangkok is located in the Bang Rak district, one of the older parts of downtown, bordered by the Chao Phraya River and Si Lom, one of the primary business/nightlife neighborhoods in the sprawling Thai capital. The hotel is conveniently located across from Saphan Taksin (meaning “Taksin Bridge”) BTS (sky train) station, Sathon pier for local commuter transport, is only a 20-25 minute walk to Si Lom, and even offers a free boat service for guests to the Asiatique shopping and dining complex.

View from my room; the Ferris Wheel of Asiatique can be seen in the background.

The immediate area around the hotel is known for its Thai and Teochew food, specifically congee (rice porridge) and pig knuckle, but I’m more of a spicy seafood (think calamari salad, and mashed catfish and chilies) eater. If you’re feeling too homesick for something else, the Shangri-La is located right by the Robinson shopping complex, which houses a Tops supermarket in the basement.

(not from the hotel) Catfish and Calamari

Before entering the hotel, I noticed that they had one of those not-quite security checks just outside of the main doors. Well, they didn’t bark at me like the TSA does, but they also never cared about what I threw into the X-Ray machine, as long as something was thrown in.

Shangri-La Wing Lobby

I should note that the Shangri-La Bangkok has two wings. My room was located in the older, Shangri-La Wing, containing 673 rooms, and originally built in 1986. The lobby bustles with business-people, couples, families, and lots of hotel staff whirring about. My review will only be covering this part of the hotel.

The Krungthep Wing, finished in 1991, has only 129 rooms, and has a quieter, more private feel. Whereas the Shangri-La Wing also has a lobby cafe and an outdoor pool, the pool and cafe in the Krungthep Wing are free only for guests in that section. That said, guests in either wing can easily walk between the two, and might be glad that the hotel air conditioning can accompany you from the Shangri-La Wing almost all the way to the Saphan Taksin BTS station.

Shangri-La Wing Pool…and solar panels

My contact generously provided me with early check-in/out, and access to the Horizon Club Lounge on the 24th floor. All my interactions with front desk staff were hit-or-miss, I did appreciate the one time that one agent assisted me before helping another guest who obviously cut in line.

Now, onto the deluxe river view room…

My room was on the 20th floor; rooms could only be accessed by swiping the room key on the elevator panel. Additionally, the Horizon Club Lounge floor required special swiping access, although I noticed that if you could make it to the 23rd floor (presumably a club room floor anyway), there’s a spiral staircase connecting to the 24th.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

First impressions were that the room was very clean-looking, bright, and had an excellent view of the Chao Phraya River/Shangri-La Wing swimming pool. There were enough pillows present to stretch the length of one Boeing 777 wing – maybe – though I would say that the electrical sockets were not plentiful enough, and that Samsung technology (in the room’s case, the tv) is third-rate. Most importantly, however, the bed was exceedingly comfortable, and I also managed to awkwardly pass out on the couch, courtesy of jet lag. Staying on that topic, unless someone was yelling right outside of the door – and if it’s anyone, it’s a mainland Chinese guest – the room was very quiet. That’s a big plus.

The bathroom was equipped with a shower with excellent water pressure, a bathtub, useful amenities including a toothbrush and a comb, and a rather tight space for the toilet. The volume button on the side of the basin – I’m guessing to control the tv volume – did not function properly, though that’s a minor quibble.

I only tried a couple of the Shangri-La Bangkok choices (I’m in Thailand…Thai food beckons!), so we’ll have a closer look at three of them. In all, there’s the riverside Salathip restaurant focusing on Thai food, Volti for Italian, Shang Palace for Cantonese, a Chocolate Boutique, the 14.2 meter (46.5 feet) Long Bar, the Lobby Lounge, Next2 Cafë for buffets, and even a nightly dinner cruise on-board the hotel’s own Horizon II. The Horizon Club Lounge also serves breakfast, afternoon tea and liquors, and has its own meeting spaces. The restaurants could all be rented out, and theme parties are a common occurrence in the Shangri-La Bangkok. On one of the nights I was at the hotel, Volti had a Latin dance party.

Lobby Lounge

Lemongrass Tea

The Lobby Lounge was generally busy but not overcrowded. It’s airy and full of light, but at night, there’s often an underwhelming singer serenading the furniture. While sipping my lemongrass tea and munching on taro chips and tom yam peanuts, I overheard a few business meetings taking place; in other words, I don’t think I noticed anyone younger than 18 at anytime in the Lobby Lounge.

The Horizon Club Lounge and its staff were a high point of my time at the Shangri-La Bangkok, even though some of the guests let their kids run amok. Anyway, the views were good, the snacks changed every day, and the staff were particularly pleasant, and very willing to help.

View north/northwest from the Horizon Club Lounge

I’m rather fond of this photo, taken from the computer terminal section of the Horizon Club Lounge. The Baiyoke Sky Tower is in the left background, and in the left foreground, Assumption Cathedral.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Ah, now we’re talking, right? In reality…no. The breakfast buffet at Next2 Café was the low point of my stay. Waiters and cooks were sluggish, bored and unresponsive, other diners – again, Chinese – treated the meal as if it were their last, and the overall taste of the food, save for the salad bar and Indian section, was dull or insipid. Not to mention, the chef at the omelette bar was coughing all over my omelette, so that was cool.

The one positive aspect is that Next2 Café also had outdoor seating…on the flip side, people could smoke there.

In spite of the disappointing breakfast, somewhat out of the way location, and presence of obnoxious guests (which is not hotel’s fault), the riverside atmosphere, Horizon Club Lounge, and overall tranquility in the deluxe river view room helped outweigh the negatives. If I returned to the Shangri-La Bangkok, I’d likely opt for the Krung Thep Wing, as it appeared more serene and subdued, almost as if it were a separate hotel.

Since my first flight with them in 2002, Japan Airlines has consistently been one of the more tolerable airlines to choose. OK, so I find their flight attendants a wee bit too obsequious with Japanese passengers, their in-flight announcements (in Japanese) can last as long as domestic Japanese flights, and some of their meal choices are questionable if not unwelcome. Then again, it could be worse.

Or, it could be somewhere in the middle:

I asked a friend what he thought this was, and he said “mint.” For context, many New York-area diners used to have round mints – sometimes colored white, other times multicolored – at the register. Creative response, but with chopsticks and clear broth present, very far off.

Wouldn’t you know it, it’s fishball soup…proudly created by a 3D printer? Would it be any tackier if it looked like a rainbow?

This was part of an airlineart classairline meal on a flight from Tokyo to Dallas. Oh, what should I say next? Book a ticket today!

Disclaimer: Disclaimer: In `exchange for lunch at the Park Hyatt Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan, I am writing this review.

It seems I can’t get enough of this hotel. Could part of that be because I once made Bill Murray laugh by uttering a Japanese line from the bonus section of the Lost in Translation DVD? Yes. And there goes the first and last name drop in BuildingMyBento history.

Two cool aspects about the New York Grill is that you can peer through its open kitchen and floor-to-ceiling wine cellar while walking to the main dining room. There are even a few seats at the kitchen, though I’m quite partial to those right next to the high windows overlooking the endless Tokyo sprawl. After all, it’s on the 52nd floor.

Park Hyatt Tokyo, New York Grill & Bar– Not Quite the Same View, But…

Lunch is served daily from 11:30 to 14:30, and dinner runs daily from 17:30 to 22:00. For lunch only, you order the mains á la carte, but appetizers and dessert are served buffet-style. Also, shorts are permitted during lunchtime, but not at dinner.

Taken from the Dessert Side, Looking Towards the Appetizers Side…Unless You’re in the Dessert First Category.

The buffet at first glance, looked small and easy to maneuver. More importantly, however, is that the food tastes fresh and good…in general, I have mostly positive things to say about it. Even though the New York Grill is mostly influenced by Western European and American cuisines, the kitchen takes a page from Japanese culinary traditions, too, using seasonal and local ingredients where possible.

The appetizers section had salad, sliced fish and meats, a variety of vegetables and condiments, homemade ricotta, and seafood.

Almost as soon as I was seated by the attentive and courteous waitstaff, I got up again to go to the buffet. In other words, I didn’t even see them place the freshly baked olive bread on the table. Oh, and that Hokkaido Okoppe Butter is shipped daily to the Park Hyatt Tokyo. It’s darn good.

Eventually, I took a break from the buffet, and visited the main dish portion of the menu. Yes, yes, I’m sure the chicken, seafood, and pork loin all would have been equally delicious, but I zoomed right in on a half-half: that is, half Kobe beef, half Sendai beef, served with garlic mashed potatoes and red wine sauce:

It was my first time trying both the Kobe and Sendai steaks, and they certainly lived up to their reputations. I might actually give the nod to the Sendai cut (on the left), because it wasn’t quite as oily. They didn’t need the red wine treatment either; they tasted excellent without the reduction. If only a sampler platter of steak was available, I…still wouldn’t be hungry today.

After eating half of my weight in vegetables and beef, I elected to fill in the other half with dessert. Given that much of Japan is inching closer towards autumn, plums and grapes figured prominently in the pies. Other delightful sweets included passion fruit and vanilla custards, a decadent chocolate cake, and doughnut balls with whipped cream. Without hyperbole, I was pleasantly full long before getting to most of the plate, but the taste and not-so-overpowering sweetness easily sustained my enthusiasm.

Lots of good food, a clean and welcoming atmosphere, and great views, but…who’s the chef behind the scenes?

Beginning in 2003, Hamburg, Germany-bred Chef Steffan Heerdt started cultivating his cooking skills at Park Hyatt Hamburg, before stints at the Park Hyatt Zurich and Park Hyatt Seoul. He has been with the Park Hyatt Tokyo since December 2016.

I’d return to the New York Grill without question, save for the fact that they have a New York Yankees mural in the main dining room (c’mon, the Mets are the NY team). Now, if they could whip up an eel and Sendai beef surf and turf for me next time…

You are invited to an indulgent fine dining experience for breakfast, lunch and dinner, where our splendid buffet spread awaits.

However, the restaurant’s website – which was not the first search engine result – ultimately had the correct description:

The a la carte menu is available on:

Monday to Friday from 12pm to 6pm for lunch

Monday to Sunday from 6pm to 10.30pm for dinner

If you are in the mood for a buffet, it is available for breakfast, on Sundays for brunch, and for catered parties, which are a common occurrence at Bengawan.

With that riveting backstory out of the way, let’s move on to the food. Khika, the Director of Marketing Communications at the Keraton at the Plaza, was very attentive and helpful in planning my review, as well as in handling my request to change the date and restaurant.

Named after a river in the central Javanese city of Solo (Surakarta), Bengawan’s design aesthetic is almost entirely dissimilar from that of the rest of the hotel. The lobby is sleek and dark, with minimalist touches throughout. However, I felt that Bengawan had more of a South Florida late 80s/early 90s feel. As noted earlier in the post, this is a trivial issue, because the design of the chairs and tables has virtually nothing to do with the taste of the food.

In spite of the anachronistic restaurant motif, the ceiling was high, the windows were wide, and the atmosphere was bright and airy.

Unless you’re arriving by car at the hotel lobby (where the elevators to the restaurant are located), you’ll have to walk through the Plaza Indonesia (hence, Keraton at the Plaza) mall. It’s not the easiest place to access, but I think that’s a positive in this case, as it’s thus a quieter setting. Bonus: even though one might think the views aren’t too great merely from the 7th floor, they’re actually cool:

to think these twin towers used to be the E’X mall…this is the view north from Bengawan

Instead of eating breakfast that day, once I received confirmation that it wouldn’t be a buffet, I decided to check out the menu.

Bengawan serves a mix of Western, Indonesian, and East/Southeast Asian dishes, cocktails, mocktails, and smoothies. Admittedly, there was one specific item that immediately caught my attention, called rendang pizza:

Whaaaat?! Rendang, one of my favorite (of many) Indonesian foods, combined with pizza, the one meal I crave the most while away from home. Naturally, it was a must, but being familiar with Indonesian dairy and baked goods, I was incredulous at first.

Still, I have to give the chef credit for this – dare I say – fusion of cuisines. The rendang tasted just right, with the coconut milk making a not so overpowering appearance, and the cheese and dough were baked for just the right amount of time.

Thankfully, Bengawan chose the right pizza path (thin crust New York-style, not the all dough-no substance Chicago-style).

Wow, I couldn’t wait to talk about the pizza, completely ignoring the fact that the waiter provided bread upon being seated.

As I alluded to above, it’s not easy finding a good Western bakery in Jakarta. Even the most harmless-looking baguette or brioche has a good chance of being stuffed with meat floss, custard, or who knows what else. Indeed, I’d give most of the bread basket a pass, save for the quality multigrain roll, and the grissini, if only for their genuine crunch.

I was in the mood for a smoothie, so Khika suggested one with coconut, green chia seeds, kale, bok choi, spinach, banana, and pineapple. Darn good choice, too.

Realizing that it had been a few days since I had raw vegetables, I…took the easy way out and went with a Caprese salad, made with mozzarella, tomatoes, and in this case, mesclun.

The salad tasted fresh, the tomatoes were juicy, and the vinaigrette wasn’t too acidic. Although the mozzarella had a rather subtle flavor, it was infinitely better than this local brand. While we’re still on this topic, I’ll add that the presentation of each dish was appealing; in particular the salad plate was clean-looking and neatly prepared.

This plate was the main event. Supposedly invented only in 1970 on the island of Lombok (right next to Bali, to the east), ayam taliwang consists of grilled and fried chicken seasoned with garlic, chilies, and terasi, or shrimp paste. Inside of the banana leaf next to the ayam (chicken) is steamed rice. The two sambal, or chili sauces, on the bottom of the picture are red chili and garlic sauce on the left, and beberuk terong, or eggplant chili paste on the right.

Compliments to the chef for this one, too. I don’t typically order bones when I’m in a restaurant, but I almost wanted to eat the whole darn thing, considering how flavorful the chicken was. The sambal were also addictive, so I started putting them on the rendang pizza.

Bengawan clearly has some good food and an easygoing setting to offer patrons, but its service could use a bit of a boost. The waiter reeked of kretek, or clove cigarettes, and wasn’t terribly knowledgeable about my menu choices. That said, I’m adventurous with food, and enjoyed almost every morsel at Bengawan, so I’d try a few different items next time. Should you find yourself hungrily wandering the halls of Plaza Indonesia, you may want to know that:

From the portion size, you can tell they knew I was coming. From the reused cooking oil, you can tell I knew what I was getting into.

I consumed this tasty polo, better known to much of the world as mutton pilaf, at a hole-in-the-wall behind a cement truck in Ürümqi, Xinjiang, China. I got on a bus hoping to get to one of the train stations, and I ended up in a construction zone that made you wish you were running a marathon on a Beijing ring road.

Ordinarily, I’d shy away from this unctuous clump of lukewarm rice with carrots and mutton, but 手抓饭 shǒuzhuā​fàn “rice seized with your hands” (or 炸饭zháfàn “exploded rice”) can count Xinjiang as one of its ancestral homes. At Xinjiang restaurants in Shenzhen, the Chinese city where I’ve spent the most time, it’s often extremely oily and served at places that won’t give you change for ten kuai (~US$1.64 these days)- who am I kidding, that’s everywhere. It’s also sweet, for the carrots impart a flavor that I prefer to reserve for dessert.

That’s the actual serving size. Oh LOOK, more carrots, but those were a nice, vinegary side dish this time. Tepid tea made with the freshest tap water, a table that looks like Ocean Drive in Miami and a spoon used by all of Xinjiang finish off the autumnal meal. Judging only by that quintessential Uyghur lunch, I wouldn’t be loathe to order it again.